Chapter 103: Variable

Whether righteous or evil, to me there's hardly any difference.

Lu Chen spoke slowly.

His answer was what Huang Jingxuan least wanted to hear.

If he leaned toward righteousness, she needn't say more; the scales of victory would naturally tilt toward the righteous side.

If he leaned toward evil, she could use a few tactics; even killing Lu Chen would greatly damage the demonic path's fate.

She feared this indifferent attitude.

If she wanted to win him over, she would have to pay a great price.

If she didn't win him over, she might have to pay an even greater price.

Through prior divination, she sensed that Lu Chen possessed a presence so powerful it could make her submit instantly.

She knew this was his confidence.

"Now it seems we can only try to win him over."

"If we win him over, perhaps we can use cultivation techniques and resources to do so......"

The moment this idea arose, she immediately rejected it.

Since Lu Chen possesses that powerful presence, he certainly won't lack powerful cultivation techniques.

Besides cultivation techniques, what else could there be?

Suddenly, she seemed to think of something.

"A physical body!"

During this time, divining Lu Chen's information cost her thousands of years of lifespan.

Through the Hun Tian Yi, she knew that powerful being possessed only a soul-form.

If she could produce a physical body satisfactory to him, she might be able to win Lu Chen over.

"But...... the stance of that powerful being is unclear; if he is of the demonic path, wouldn't I be aiding evil?"

Huang Jingxuan hesitated greatly.

Her lifespan is nearly exhausted; she can no longer use the Hun Tian Yi for divination.

Her disciples and elders, lacking sufficient skill, cannot use it either.

Cultivation techniques won't work, nor will a physical body.

Huang Jingxuan felt a bit headache.

Just then, her gaze swept over Mu Hanyu standing nearby.

"Dao companion..."

When she previously divined, she also happened to learn of Lu Chen's romantic history.

Furthermore, according to her undercover agent in the Demonic Sect, she learned that Lu Chen has countless dao companions around him.

"But...... this kind of thing......"

Indeed, because of cultivation, the female cultivators in the sect are all of extraordinary beauty.

But to simply "gift" one's own sect disciples to the other side—that is the modus operandi of the demonic path.

"......" Huang Jingxuan felt another wave of headache.

Having sat in the position of Sect Leader for so many years, this is the first time she has encountered such a thorny matter.

"Or, we could place him in the sect and let the disciples fall in love freely."

"His appearance is not bad, his cultivation is decent; surely many female disciples would take a liking to him."

"But we don't know whether he would be willing."

Huang Jingxuan pondered for a long time, but for a moment couldn't think of a better solution.

She had no choice but to signal the elders to leave and temporarily ask Mu Hanyu to step out.

She intended to talk with Lu Chen alone.

Lu Chen saw the situation, wasn't startled, and let them arrange as they wished.

"Young friend, what do you think of our Purple Imperial Palace?"

"Not bad; it's one of the Five Great Sects of the Heaven Continent, and the Sect Leader has reached the Dao Comprehension Realm."

Hearing Lu Chen's answer, Huang Jingxuan nodded slightly.

"Now that clashes between righteousness and evil are frequent, you may temporarily reside in the sect; as long as the Purple Imperial Palace isn't breached, I will surely keep you safe."

"During that time, the sect's cultivation techniques can be made available for your practice at any time, and resources can be tilted toward you to the greatest extent......"

Those two sentences of hers were unexpected to Lu Chen.

Lu Chen's original goal this time was to stay in the Purple Imperial Palace; he had been wondering how to bring it up.

As it turned out, the other party took the initiative to invite him.

"It feels like a trap."

With so many pancakes falling from the sky, Lu Chen couldn't help but suspect.

Seeing Lu Chen reluctant, Huang Jingxuan immediately added.

"If you feel bound, young friend, you may leave at any time."

"The Purple Imperial Palace welcomes......"

If outsiders saw this scene, they would surely think they were dreaming.

The reason is simple: a Dao Comprehension cultivator actually shows such sincerity toward an Initial Spirit Transformation cultivator.

Even the status of a Spirit Transformation cultivator seems to be above that of a Dao Comprehension cultivator.

Truly strange.

"All right."

Lu Chen hesitated for a moment, then agreed.

However, he also had a precondition: Mu Han Yu must stay as well.

"No problem."

Huang Jingxuan immediately agreed.

After the negotiation, both Lu Chen and she felt they had gained.

Even so, Huang Jingxuan vaguely felt a little worried.

She worried that the sect's cultivators would not catch the other party's eye.

But that is all for later.

As long as we keep them first, everything remains possible.

"Someone come."

She summoned an elder and had him arrange lodging for Lu Chen.

"Yes!"

The elder received the order and led Lu Chen away.

Watching the two depart, Huang Jingxuan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She returned to her main seat, her gaze falling on the Armillary Sphere, pondering something.

"The fate of the Purple Imperial Palace has been backlashed by a predecessor from ten thousand years ago and continues to this day..."

"If we cannot avoid this sect-destroying disaster, the Purple Imperial Palace may never exist again."

Thinking of this, an image suddenly appeared before her eyes.

It was the former appearance of the Purple Imperial Palace.

She had never seen it with her own eyes.

Rather, through the Armillary Sphere, she reverse‑calculated and learned the sect's secret.

"What a pity her lifespan is nearing its end."

She shifted her gaze from the Armillary Sphere to the radiant hall doors.

"Forget it; if we could see the outcome, effort would lose its meaning."

"Perhaps the Purple Imperial Palace declined precisely for this reason."

"The ancestors of all generations of the sect, I will do my utmost in this sect crisis; if I cannot turn the tide, may those in the underworld not blame me!"

Perhaps feeling a bit tired, after saying these words Huang Jingxuan quickly returned to her sleeping quarters.

Outside the hall, Lu Chen was assigned a quite good residence.

It is close to several important locations of the Purple Imperial Palace, and not far from the sect leader's quarters either.

"Since there is nothing else, I will take my leave first."

The Cave Heaven Realm elder smiled, clasped his hands, and departed.

"The people of the Purple Imperial Palace truly have an awe‑inspiring demeanor."

"If this were another sect, I fear those elders would have torn me apart?"

Lu Chen gave a light smile, his opinion of the Purple Imperial Palace rising a few notches.

Meanwhile, Mu Han Yu was tidying his bed.

"Master, what did the Purple Imperial Palace sect leader just say to you?"

"She asked about the things you had asked before." Lu Chen replied calmly.

"I had asked before?"

"Hmm."

Lu Chen responded, then took out a sound transmission talisman from his storage bag.

After sending a message to Su Qian and the others, he soon received their reply.

They were safe and sound, diligently cultivating at Spirit Stream Town.

"If the Purple Imperial Palace is indeed safe, perhaps after a while we can bring them over."

"However, this place is close to Perfection Continent; if a major war suddenly breaks out, it could be dangerous."

Lu Chen considered the matter thoroughly.

"Master, the bed is ready; do you want to rest?"

Mu Han Yu voluntarily slipped into the blankets to warm the bed for Lu Chen.

Once a cultivator reaches Foundation Establishment, ordinary cold and heat hardly affect them.

Warming the bed is merely a prelude to dual cultivation.

Seeing her so proactive, Lu Chen gave a wry smile.

No wonder King Zhou, after meeting Daji, neglected state affairs.

"Yes."